To celebrate World Book Day on 1st March, we've asked Cambridgeshire's adult learners to write us a brand new, quite unique story. Our mini online book has been started off by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Carol Carman. The story could go anywhere... and it's up to our teams of would-be story writers to decide. Each group will contribute successive paragraphs until we reach the end. That'll be a tough task for the final group - they'll have to wrap up the story and tie up all those loose ends! Anyway - here it is. Keep checking every day for the next installment, and the final 'chapter' will be published in time for World Book Day. Part one In the darkness, Kate couldn't decide whether the noise had been real or she'd dreamt it, but either way she was awake in an instant. Despair mixed with anger swept over her; sleep was in short supply since Pete had gone, and whatever had woken her so abruptly had better have a good reason. She sighed. Past experience had taught her that lying there brooding about it was worse than useless, leading only to deeper anger and eventual tears. She threw back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed, but instead of the soft plush of the deep-pile carpet... Part two - St Johns Primary literacy group She felt a cold, hard, rough flagstone floor beneath her feet. In her dazed state, sheer panic descended upon her. Her mind was racing, how did I get here? Where am I? Despair suddenly overwhelmed her and she realised she had to find a way out. Kate was drawn to a faint light seeping through the keyhole, she realised this could be her only way out. She reached out hesitantly and nervously turned the door handle... Part three - Welbourne Primary in Werrington The door opened with a creak. The light was coming from the stars and the moon. Stepping out of the room she nearly tripped over a chest. Judging by the sharp edge she wondered, as she rubbed her shin wincing, if it might be metal. In the dim glow of the moon she saw a tattered piece of paper attached to the chest. She bent down and squinted as she tried to make out what had been scribbled on the paper. She could just about read the message: "If you ever want to see Pete again, find the following items.... Part four - Southfields group Kate was now utterly confused. She felt so scared. Who could be playing such a heartless trick? She needed to find a school photo of Pete and an old school tie. She looked around in the moonlight. There were no clues. Could they be in the chest? She tried it, it was open. To her relief she found it was full of his school memorabilia and another message... Part four (alternative version) - Peterborough Libraries “…. Pete’s suitcase, the last letter Pete wrote to you and Pete’s wallet and key.” Kate stood up in the cold light and felt afraid, and now her head ached, it was almost as if… Kate felt the back of her head and felt a lump as if she had been hit by something. As she touched the lump she winced and she saw a flash of light and she was back in her home but the lights were on and very bright so she closed her eyes and when she opened them again she was back in the dark passageway in the moonlight. What was happening? Kate felt afraid. What could she do? She picked up the message again. Pete’s suitcase, the last letter Pete wrote to her and Pete’s wallet and key. Kate looked around her, now she was getting used to the light she could see she was in a passageway. She walked further on and could just make out a familiar coat hanging on a hook on the wall. Pete’s coat! Pete always kept his wallet and keys in his coat pocket. Kate quickly searched and found them. The corridor went on, so Kate went on. She could see more light in the distance and she walked towards it. Panic was gripping her now. This was too strange. Kate started to run, she stumbled over something in her path she hadn’t seen. Kate turned to look. Pete’s suitcase. What was that doing here? Kate wanted to leave. Her head ached, her legs hurt and she felt sick, dizzy and afraid. Kate pulled herself up again and dragged the suitcase towards the light. The light was shining through a thin curtain, her heart pounded as she pulled back the curtain and…. Part five - Wintercomfort for the Homeless, literacy taster session There, laid in an alcove was Pete. He was laid on his stomach, tied hand and foot behind him. A wave of relief washed over Kate, she still didn't know where she was or how she had gotten there but she was no longer alone, she had found Pete. It seemed that he was awake, so Kate began untying him. Pete sat up, he seemed shaken but otherwise unharmed. Kate helped him to his feet and, with some trial and error, between them they found their way out of the corridor into a massive hallway. There, directly in front of them was the biggest doorway Kate had ever laid eyes on. All the windows were curtained. They had no way of telling if it was day or night outside the hallway. Between them, in a state of unsurely they opened the doorway to find… Kate awoke, from one of the most vivid dreams she had ever experienced, to find herself in her all so familiar bed. She tuned to her side to find Pete, the love of her life, laid next to her still slumbering. Thank goodness was her first thought, it had just been a dream, realistic, but still only a dream, how strange, but hey life can be strange at times can it not? The end | 
